Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1887-09-29

SN--s@--'
EQUAL TO THE SITUATION.
would not weigh quite u quarter Of n
pound-that Joe brought out, together
with an alder pole, from the thlcket
whr,c le had enacted the bear
al lug some bait on the way, and
caught these little fellows coming
along" explained Joe, as he held them
mp before his companions admiring
gaze.
''Uh, boWlin't / like 10 catch Just
one troutr' sighed Tad; and Joe
stoutly assured him not to worry-he'd
put him up to catching more than one
perhaps half dysun-bcfore they
returned.
"Did it hurt you Ucry much?" in
quircd Tad, presently, with delicate
reference 10 the cause Of his compan-
ions detention.
"The pas,cbuard wasn't quite low
down enough" said Joe. mournfully,
and Tad asked no further questions.
Father didn't ilog me for just hay
ing n little fun with you and Miss
smith," Joe went on-Hftrr- short
pause, "bu, because be said ns good
rs lied when l made her think that
you was deaf. and you think that sac
was"
well" returned Tad, hesitatingly,
81 don't know-you didn't mean to say
what wnsn't truC. any way"
mo said Joe, franklyi ~ didn't, I
hate a square up and down lie as bad
as the next one; but, come to study on
it over, guess we fellows don't stop to
think long enough, sometimes, and lie
when we don't mean to; anyhow, / do.
and I'm going to try and stop II"
This was quite an admission for Joe,
who was generally very chary of ac-
knowlcdging his faults. But he had
begun to feel q strong boyish affection
for his companion, and spoke more
openly to him than he was in the habit
Of doing.
"But what made you so long getting
here?' asked Tad, breaking the little
silence that followed.
W N.Y. hAAfA AAtiti EUN AnluNEl
with me-" returned Joe, while hui
morous smile began to hover about his
mouth, che set me churning, and went
OF down town on an crTand. Mother,
she was sent for to 20 over to Mis-
Emory's, all Of a sudden. and. by gra-
ciOus!" said Joe, rubbing his shoul-
ders, IL thought my arms would Just
unhinge out Of the sockets before the
butter came. Well, Nell. she took the
butter down into the cellar kitchen to
work it, and forgot to cmpt' the churn
(as mother always docs), and whilst
she waf down there" continued Joe.
whose smile had begun 10 broaden. IL
saw father coming up the walk. 50 what
does / do hut get hold Of the churn-
dasher again. Father. he came in.
There, my son! he says, i guess
you've been punished cnough-you can
go now and then he took the churn-
dashor right out Of my hand. II moth
or hasn't got back. or il Nell don't
come upstairs" added Joe, with an
irrcpressible snicker. Il expect likely
he's churning buttcrmilk now"
As Tad knew rather less than Hot
tcntot regarding the mysteries Of churn-
ing, the point Of Joe's little joke WIS
not perfectly clear 10 his 0~n mind.
And perhaps, on second thought, Joe
might have remembered that the tacit
deception practiced toward his father
was not exactly in keeping with his pro-
fcssed pcnitcnce Of a moment or two
previous, for he made no attempt 10
enlighten his companion, but, taking
up his pole, said, rather hastily. that
he guessed they'd better be getting to-
ward home, as IL was considerably
past dinncr-time.
About halfway down Mil brook
were the ruins Of an old saw-mill.
Here, among the great timbers below
the dam. the water HyGc deep eddics
and shady hooks, where trout love 10
lie in tho heat of the day.
Throw in there, Tad" said Joe,
poiuting TO nspot where the dark water
rushed aroupd the end Of the broken
hume like m.ll-racc.
Tad secretly thought that any trout
venturcsomo enough 10 trust himself in
such swift current would be swept
down stream in twinkling. But he
obeycd. and
Good gracious! had sturgeon or
young whale seized his baitl His line
went cutting through the dark waters.
and the top Of the adler pole bent ONT
nously